To Athens [23.7333,37.9667] (Perseus)Athens and Sparta Xerxes sent no heralds to demand earth, and this he did for the following reason. When Darius had previously sent men with this same purpose, those who made the request were cast at the one city into the PitInto which criminals condemned to death were thrown. and at the other into a well, and bidden to obtain their earth and water for the king from these locations.

What calamity befell the Athenians for dealing in this way with the heralds I cannot say, save that their land and their city were laid waste. I think, however, that there was another reason for this, and not the aforesaid.Possibly the burning of the temple at Sardis [28.0167,38.475] (Perseus) Sardis (Hdt. 5.102).